Definitions
Medications – For the purposes of this policy, medications include prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, including herbal preparations and vitamins. Medications also include substances that
claim or purport to be medicinal or performance enhancing.
Authorized Prescriber – Includes a health care provider licensed or otherwise authorized by state law
to prescribe medication.
General
The Jefferson City School District is not legally obligated to administer medication to students
unless specifically included in a Section 504 plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
However, the Board recognizes that some students may require medication for chronic or short-term
illness to enable them to remain in school and participate in the district's educational services.
Further, the district prohibits students from possessing or self-administering medications while on
district grounds, on district transportation or during district activities unless explicitly authorized in
accordance with this policy. Therefore, the superintendent or designee, in collaboration with the
district nursing staff, will establish administrative procedures for storing and administering
medications in compliance with this policy and pursuant to state and federal law. Medications will
only be administered at school when it is not possible or not effective for the student to receive the
medication at home.
The administration of medications is a nursing activity that must be performed by or under the
supervision of a registered professional nurse. A registered professional nurse may delegate the
administration of medication to a licensed practical nurse or unlicensed personnel who are trained
by the nurse to administer medications. The registered professional nurse is responsible for
developing written procedures for training unlicensed personnel in the administration of medications
and for supervising the administration of medication by others. In accordance with law, any trained
or qualified employee will be held harmless and immune from civil liability for administering
medication in good faith and according to standard medical practices. A qualified employee is one
who has been trained to administer medication according to standard medical practices.
The nurse or designee must maintain thorough documentation of all medications administered to
students.
Nurses must use reasonable and prudent judgment to determine whether to administer particular
medications to students while also working in collaboration with parents/guardians and school
administration. In carrying out their legal duty to protect the health, welfare and safety of students,
nurses will, when necessary, clarify authorized prescriber orders and respond in accordance with
such clarifications.
The district shall not knowingly administer medications in an amount exceeding the recommended
daily dosage listed in the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) or other recognized medical or
pharmaceutical text. Except for the emergency use of a prefilled epinephrine auto syringe, the
district will not administer the first dose of any medication. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to
arrange to administer prescription medications themselves when possible.
Over-the-Counter Medications
The district may administer over-the-counter medication to a student upon receipt of a written
request and permission to do so by a parent/guardian. All over-the-counter medications must be
delivered to the school principal or designee in the manufacturer's original packaging and will only
be administered in accordance with the manufacturer's label.
Prescription Medications
The parent/guardian must provide the district with written permission to administer the medication
before the district will administer the prescription medication to the student. The prescription label
will be considered the equivalent of a prescriber's written direction, and a separate document is not
needed.
Self-Administered Medications
An authorized prescriber or a student's IEP or Section 504 team may recommend that an individual
student with a chronic health condition assume responsibility for his or her own medication as part
of learning self-care. The district will allow students to self-administer medication for the treatment
of a chronic health condition including, but not limited to, asthma and anaphylaxis, in accordance
with this policy and law. The district will permit the self-administration of other medications as
required by the student's Section 504 plan or IEP. The district will not allow any student to self-administer medications unless:
1. The medication was prescribed or ordered by the student's physician.
2. The physician has provided a written treatment plan for the condition for which the
medication was prescribed or authorized that includes a certification that the student is
capable of and has been instructed in the correct and responsible use of the medication and
has demonstrated to the physician or the physician's designee the skill level necessary to use
the medication.
3. The student has demonstrated proper self-administration technique to the school nurse.
4. The student's parents have signed a statement authorizing self-administration and
acknowledging that the district and its employees or agents will incur no liability as a result
of any injury arising from the self-administration of such medication unless such injury is a
result of negligence on the part of the district or its employees or agents.
Possession of Self-Administered Medications
An authorized prescriber may recommend that an individual student with a chronic health condition
be allowed to be in possession of his or her medication on district property for the purposes of self-administration. The district will permit possession of medication for the treatment of a chronic
health condition including, but not limited to, asthma or anaphylaxis, on district property, at district-sponsored activities and in transit to and from school or activities in accordance with law. The
district will also permit the possession of other medications for the purposes of self-administration
as required by the student's Section 504 plan or IEP. The district may otherwise permit the
possession of medications for self-administration in accordance with law. No student will be
permitted to possess any medication unless the parent/guardian has submitted all required
authorizations and releases in accordance with this policy.
Consequences
Students who possess or consume medications in violation of this policy while on district grounds,
on district transportation or during a district activity may be disciplined up to and including
suspension or expulsion. Employees who violate this policy may be disciplined up to and including
termination. District administrators will notify law enforcement when they believe a crime has
occurred.
* * * * * * *
In the event of a discrepancy between an administrative procedure and a Board policy, the Board
policy will take precedence.
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for
related information.
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Adopted: 09/10/1990
Revised: 02/14/2000; 06/12/2006; 09/11/2007; 02/13/2012
Cross Refs: EBB, Communicable Diseases
EBBA, Illness and Injury Response and Prevention
Legal Refs: §§ 167.621 - .630, 335.016, .066, 338.059, 577.625, .628, RSMo.
Davis v. Francis Howell Sch. Dist., 138 F.3d 754 (8th Cir. 1998)
DeBord v. Board of Educ. of Ferguson-Florissant Sch. Dist., 126 F.3d 1102 (8th Cir.
1997)
Jefferson City School District, Jefferson City, Missouri
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